As they get ready to celebrate their 90th anniversary, the beloved Thrift Shop of Boston is expanding and moving to a new space on Corinth Street that will better accommodate their shop as well as allow them to host the popular charitable drives and campaigns run by the Home for Little Wanderers, including the Big Wishes toy drive during the holidays.

Their new location at 33 Corinth Street (Bank of America building), will be remodeled over the next three months to include easier access for donation deliveries, a basement storage area, new lighting, and more functional retail elements like separate areas for different types of items and a full counter for purchases. They plan to open in the new space in July of 2015 and will be offering many special sales and promotions between now and July to clear inventory in their current location. Check out their event schedule here for details.

Last year, RVMS began conversations with the Thrift Shop of Boston to help find a larger space in Roslindale Village that could better support their growing shop. Then, in spring 2014, RVMS welcomed Mayor Walsh to the business district to highlight community partners and anchor businesses, including The Thrift Shop of Boston. Noting that The Thrift Shop of Boston had an opportunity to relocate to an ideal location only one block away – one that would allow them, as well as the entire business district, to grow – RVMS asked Mayor Walsh for guidance on how best to engage Bank of America who not only owned the property but had been a longtime supporter of the Boston Main Streets program. Mayor Walsh, working through the Office of Business Development, helped to connect Roslindale Village Main Street and The Thrift Shop of Boston with leaders at Bank of America who worked with the local organizations to establish favorable rent and lease terms that took into account the challenges that The Thrift Shop was facing as a lean, primarily volunteer-run business. Thanks to this partnership and these efforts, a great space has been secured which will allow the Thrift Shop to establish itself more firmly as the business anchor we already know them to be.

Thank you to our many partners that have helped to make this move possible! “It really does take a village sometimes,” as The Thrift Shop boardmember, Dan, likes to say.

Stay tuned for more news and photos of the build-out, move, and future ribbon-cutting ceremonies. We hope you’ll join us for the big celebration in July!

The Thrift Shop is currently located at 17 Corinth Street, next to Quality Meat Market and ABCD Head Start South Side, and can be reached at (617) 325 5300.